
Class _[_ 

Book 

Copyright ]^°. 



.r 



x-^ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 



THE GINGER SERIES 



"The Ginger Cure" 

" Putting Marshville on the 

Map" 

" Waking up Bolton " 

" The Rousing o£ Parkside " 

By William Ganson Rose 



Each $ .50 net; by post $ .55 



E3 



THE ROUSING 
OF PARKSIDE 



BY 

WILLIAM GANSON ROSE 

Author of 

"The Ginger Cure" 

" Putting Marshville on the Map " 

"Waking Up Bolton" 

" Success in Business '* 




NEW YORK 

DUFFIELD & COMPANY 

1914 



^ 



^j 



l5 



aS' 



^to 



COPYRIGHT, I914 
BY DUFFIELD & COMPANY 



X 



^ 



THE* PLIMPTON* PRESS 

NORWOOD'MASS*U*S*A 

©CI,A374919 

JUL 27 1914 



TO HETTY GANSON HAVENS 



THE ROUSING OF 
PARKSIDE 

Chapter I 
TROUBLE 

There was trouble in the Parkside Memorial 
Sunday School. That was why the young minis- 
ter was wearing a look of unwonted worry. 
That was why the officers of the institution had 
been asked to remain after the session. That 
was why the young man in the gallery was im- 
patiently waiting for the young woman librarian. 

The Bible class had just filed out when the 
minister beckoned to the half dozen remaining 
to gather near the platform. 

"I want to have a little talk with you," he 
said as they drew their chairs in a semi-circle 
about him. "It concerns the welfare of our 
Sunday School. You are the ones who have its 
interest deepest at heart, and it is your advice 
I want in the present situation." 

[7] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

He paused and looked seriously at each of his 
listeners. 

"You refer, I surmise," said Superintendent 
Minchin coldly, "to the attendance." 

" I refer," replied the young minister, " to the 
lack of attendance." 

The directness of the response startled the 
other members of the little group and for a few 
moments there was silence. 

"What are you going to do about it?" sud- 
denly asked Miss Alicia Crosby, whose inhar- 
monious voice was not in keeping with her posi- 
tion of musical leader. 

"I don't know," frankly admitted the young 
minister. " That's why I have asked you to 
meet with me. I want your opinions. I was 
called to this church less than four months ago. 
At that time the attendance in our Sunday School 
did not seem as large as it should be. Each Sun- 
day has shown a falling-off, and today we have 
reached the low water mark for the past three 
years. I know, because I have been going over 
the record books. And so I want the opinion of 
each of you as to the cause of this unfortunate 
condition. Mr. Minchin, may we have your 
views first? " 

[8] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

The lean and forlorn-looking superintendent 
replied in his characteristic, rasping tone. 

" I understand the reason perfectly," he said. 
" It would be odd for me to be superintendent of 
this Sunday School fourteen years without un- 
derstanding the reason. But let me tell you, sir, 
that knowing the reason will in no way influence 
me to change our present methods. Do you un- 
derstand my position. Dr. Holmes? " 

The minister shook his head and smiled. 

" I don't even understand your view of the 
reason," he answered. 

" Then, sir, let me explain," went on the angry 
superintendent. " The reason for our falling-off 
in attendance is that I am conducting this Sun- 
day School upon the same religious and honora- 
ble policy that has been pursued since the founda- 
tion of the institution. On the other hand, what 
have the other churches of the vicinity been do- 
ing? If you don't know, I can tell you. They 
are stealing our pupils away from us. They are 
not playing fair. They are making of their Sun- 
day Schools places of entertainment rather than 
institutions of religious instruction." 

Each succeeding sentence had been more 
demonstrative than its predecessor, and when the 

[9] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

superintendent paused he wiped the perspiration 
from his heated brow. 

" He's right," agreed Miss Alicia Crosby, with 
an earnestness that almost equaled that of the 
hungry-looking Minchin. "Why, my own 
nephew ran away from here when my back was 
turned last Sunday and went to the Sunday 
School across the street. I learned from him 
afterwards that they give buttons for good at- 
tendance. Think of it, material rewards for re- 
ligious endeavor ! " 

She indignantly drew herself up at the con- 
clusion of her remarks and elevated her eyebrows 
to show her disdain for the methods of the Sun- 
day School across the street. 

Wilton Forman, the manly young teacher of 
the Bible class, vainly tried to repress a smile, as 
he observed, "They'll soon be giving trading 
stamps, won't they? " 

"Sir!" reprimanded the touchy superintend- 
ent. " Sir, this is no time for jesting." 

Dr. Holmes, whose smile at the pleasantry had 
been unnoticed, came to the rescue. 

" Mr. Woodrow," he said, " you are secretary 
of the Sunday School — what is your opinion? " 

[10] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

The official addressed, a sickly-looking young 
man, meekly replied, "I agree absolutely with 
Superintendent Minchin." 

"And you, Mr. Lester," said the minister, 
"you are our treasurer — have you given the 
matter any thought? " 

" Some," replied Thomas Lester, a pleasant- 
faced man of middle age. " While the attend- 
ance has been dropping off, the receipts have 
been dropping off, and the less money we have 
to spend, the less attractive our Sunday School 
necessarily becomes." 

"Oh, you believe it's unattractive?" inter- 
posed the superintendent sarcastically. 

" Maybe you'd have it appear more like a 
theatre," added the unpleasant Miss Crosby. 

The treasurer drew his lips tightly together 
and remained silent. 

" Have you anything to say, Mr. Forman? " 
the minister asked the Bible class teacher. 

" Nothing," answered the young man who did 
not seek another squelching. 

"Let me see," said Dr. Holmes, "we have 
heard from all excepting you. Miss Bums. 
What are your views? " 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

The young woman addressed hesitated, 
blushed a little, and replied, "I'd rather not 
give them, if you don't mind." 

"But this is a confidential meeting, Miss 
Burns," went on the minister, " and I'm sure that 
none of us would resent any opinion that is 
frankly spoken." 

"Well then," declared the librarian, as she 
glanced up at the young man waiting for her in 
the gallery, " I believe we're too old-fashioned 
in our methods and that we haven't kept pace 
with the progress of the other Sunday Schools. 
I visited the one across the street, two weeks 
ago to-day, and I'm sure no one could find fault 
with the manner the services were conducted. 
They were more entertaining, it is true, but it 
is also true that they were none the less religious 
on that account." 

She stopped abruptly, and her flush deepened 
under the glare of the indignant superintendent 
and the director of music. 

" I take that," said Mr. Minchin bitterly, " as 
a direct charge of mismanagement against me 
from one of the under officials." 

"Stop, please," protested Dr. Holmes. "It 
was upon my request that Miss Bums gave her 

[12] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

candid opinion, and she will be neither rebuked 
nor criticized for it." 

His voice had become stronger, and he leaned 
forward slightly as he talked. 

There was another pause, during which Miss 
Crosby arose. 

"I must be going," she announced quietly. 
" I do not care to be mixed in an affair that in- 
volves personal abuse." 

"There, there, Miss Crosby," said the min- 
ister calmly. "There is no personal abuse in 
what has been said. We are merely threshing 
out the question as to what is the matter with 
the Sunday School." 

"That," interrupted the superintendent, "is 
saying that there is something the matter with 
it." 

The promise of interesting developments was 
too much for the director of music, and she 
resumed her chair condescendingly. 

The minister was irritated at the superintend- 
ent's last challenge, and the promptness with 
which he accepted it startled even the teacher of 
the Bible class, who had been endeavoring to 
conceal his amusement ever since the superin- 
tendent rebuked him. 

[13] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" Yes," responded Dr. Holmes, " I believe 
there is something the matter with the Sunday 
School. We are all too close to its interests. 
I wish we could have the opinion of an outsider." 

His gaze naturally drifted about the big room 
and suddenly rested upon the figure of the man 
in the gallery. 

" Who is that? " he asked. 

Mary blushed. 

" That is a gentleman waiting for me," she an- 
swered, " a Mr. Barker." 

The shades had been pulled down in the gal- 
lery so that the features and attire of the 
young man were scarcely discernible. Other- 
wise the minister might have hesitated before 
asking, " Won't you invite him to join us? He 
might tell us how the service impressed him this 
morning." 

For a moment Mary hesitated. She knew that 
Mr. Barker had a keen commercial sense and that 
if this had been a business meeting or a theatrical 
performance or a political session, he could have 
given a valuable criticism. But she knew that 
her friend was not an authority on church mat- 
ters. In fact, she recalled, unhappily, that this 
very morning he had said, " It's the first time 

[14] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

I've been in a Sunday School in twelve years." 

As these matters flashed through her mind she 
thought she would make an excuse for not call- 
ing him ; but then she realized what the effect of 
such procedure would be as she glanced at the 
superintendent and his musically inclined cham- 
pion. 

They were glaring ironically from her to the 
gallery and back again, and it was with almost 
defiance that she complied with the minister's 
request and said, " I will call him." 

As she proudly walked up the main aisle, the 
superintendent remarked, his words not being 
directed toward anyone, "It's a most unusual 
procedure." 

"What will the deacons say?" asked Miss 
Crosby of nobody in particular. 

Mary Bums stopped below the gallery rail and 
motioning called, " Will you come down, John? " 

The young man nodded his assent, disap- 
peared, and in a few moments joined Mary in 
the main aisle. 

"They want to speak with you, John," whis- 
pered Mary in trepidation. 

"What have I done?" asked John, stopping 
short. 

[15] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

"Sh-h," cautioned Mary. "They want to 
know your opinion of the service." 

" It was awful," whispered her companion as 
they resumed walking. 

" Tell them so then," advised Mary, and in a 
few paces they had joined the official gather- 
ing. 

" Dr. Holmes," said Mary, " may I present my 
friend, Mr. Barker? " 

The two men shook hands, and there was a 
smile on the face of each, due partly to cordiality, 
but more especially to the humor of the situa- 
tion. 

Barker was saying to himself, " What am I up 
against? " 

Dr. Holmes was meditating, " Our consulting 
expert doesn't seem exactly suited to his call- 
ing." 

In the bright sunlight Mary's friend appeared 
different from what he seemed in the shadow 
of the dark gallery. His natty light gray suit, his 
dull red tie, his light felt hat and his smart walk- 
ing stick, made a strange contrast with the other 
men of the group who were garbed in their cus- 
tomary Sunday black. 

But if John Hancock Barker appeared amus- 
[i6] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

ingly unique to them, they appeared much the 
same to him. 

The minister presented the visitor to his as- 
sociates and motioned him into a chair. 

" Mr. Barker," he said, " we've just been hav- 
ing a Httle discussion about the Sunday School, 
and it was suggested that we should get the 
opinion of an outsider as to our present service 
and how it might possibly be changed to increase 
our attendance. I happened to see you in the 
gallery, and Miss Bums was kind enough to 
bring you into our session. Will you be so good 
as to give us a candid opinion? " 

" I am sorry to say," replied John Hancock 
Barker, " that I am unwilling to comply with 
your request. My opinions are those of a man 
of business. If I ran a Sunday School, it would 
be on a business basis. I am so much in the com- 
mercial world that even the teaching of religion 
should be a business in my mind. Please under- 
stand that I do not hold the profession of minis- 
ter or Sunday School superintendent any lower 
than does the most devout church member, but 
I do regard their work of teaching religion as 
business. The more good they inspire in the 
world, the more successfully do they conduct this 

[17] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

business. You do not agree with my views, so 
you must excuse me from commenting on the 
service I attended this morning." 

His answer was so different from an3^ing 
that had been anticipated that the little group 
stared at him in astonishment. 

"But why," asked Dr. Holmes, "do you say 
that we disagree with you in our views? We 
have not said so. How can you assume it? " 

The visitor smiled. 

" My reason is simple enough," he answered. 
" Nothing could have been further from business 
than what I saw here this morning." 

This announcement deeply stirred the indigna- 
tion of the superintendent, the secretary and the 
director of music; it amused the teacher of the 
Bible class and the treasurer; it inspired a 
twinkle in the eye of the minister, and it held 
the admiration of the gratified librarian. 

Dr. Holmes coughed slightly and then asked, 
"Wouldn't you be willing, Mr. Barker, to sum 
up your opinions in a few words? " 

" In one word," assented the newcomer, " and 
that is * funereal.' " 

The teacher of the Bible class laughed out loud 
and tried to stop himself by kicking his left ankle 

[i8] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

with his right foot, failing, however, through the 
intervention of the table leg. 

The superintendent did not heed him. He was 
writing in a notebook. 

" And how," went on the minister, " would you 
change matters if you, a business man, assumed 
charge of such an institution? Whether or not 
we would wish to follow your advice is, of course, 
a matter of no consequence to you, but I am 
sure Superintendent Minchin and myself would 
appreciate your suggestions." 

Minchin, little beads of perspiration rising on 
his forehead as he wrote, finished his note with a 
flourish and looked up. 

" I'm not so sure of that," said Barker, as he 
glanced amu^dly at the over-heated superin- 
tendent. " My criticism might not meet with 
— the professor's approval," he added, as he 
nodded at the hungry-looking leader of the Sun- 
day School. 

The superintendent arose. 

" Say what you please, for all of me, young 
man," he said, addressing Barker in a shrill, high- 
pitched voice. " In fact, no one here need re- 
gard my feelings nor my methods any longer. 
This note," he held up the paper upon which 

[19] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

he had been writing, " tells why. You, Dr. 
Holmes," he said, turning to the minister, " have 
been here a few months. I have been superin- 
tendent o£ this Sunday School for fourteen 
years." His voice broke. "Apparently with 
this young man's criticisms to aid you, you un- 
derstand conditions better than I do." He 
handed his paper to the minister. " My resigna- 
tion, Dr. Holmes, which you may rest assured 
will not be accepted by the pillars of this church 
until an investigation has been made. Four- 
teen years," his voice broke again, " and to think 
things have come to this ! " 

Alicia Crosby produced and used her handker- 
chief and arising took her place beside the super- 
intendent. 

" I'm sorry," said the minister. " I didn't want 
to hurt your feelings." 

The superintendent did not heed his words, 
but hastened up the aisle followed by the con- 
ductor of music. Secretary Woodrow gathered 
up his books and asked, " Do you require me any 
longer. Dr. Holmes?" 

" No," replied the minister, " you may go now, 
Arthur." 

The treasurer looked dubious. 

[20] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" I'm afraid Minchin will make a nasty wrangle 
of it," he said as he looked at his watch. 

" I fear nothing," responded the minister, " and 
don't let me detain you any longer." 

The treasurer bowed to those remaining and 
walked away. 

The teacher of the Bible class held out his 
hand to the minister. 

" Dr. Holmes," he said, "I'm with you. Let 
me know if I can be of service in this matter." 

" Thank you," came the appreciative response. 
" I'll call upon you, if occasion arises, Wil- 
ton." 

As the young man departed, John Hancock 
Barker rubbed the back of his head with his large 
muscular right hand. Then he looked at the 
minister earnestly. 

** I'm afraid, Doctor, that I've put things to 
the bad. I'm sorry that I was called in, but I 
assure you I didn't intend to irritate the old — I 
mean the ex-superintendent." 

"That's all right," laughe.d the minister 
cheerily, as he patted him on the shoulder. 
" Your opinion was frank and more than that, 
it was justified. Only I don't know just what to 
do next." 

[21] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

The young man's countenance showed that 
he had a new idea. 

"I — I — guess I'd better be going," he said. 

" Tell it, John," said Mary. 

"Tell what?" asked Barker. 

" You were going to say something then. You 
know you were, John." 

" Yes, I was going to give some more ad- 
vice," agreed the young man unwillingly. " But 
I think I've handed out enough of that for one 
Sunday." 

There was an awkward pause. Then Mary's 
face brightened. 

" Mr. Barker," she said, " would you mind 
taking these books into the library for me and 
filing them according to the numbers? " 

" Glad to," answered the young man, pleased 
at the opportunity of getting away. 

He was scarcely out of hearing when Mary 
turned to the minister. 

"Dr. Holmes," she said, "Mr. Barker is a 
wonderful organizer. He may seem a little for- 
ward to you, but that's only his manner which 
enables him to practice what he calls the * Ginger 
Cure.' I know of several propositions he's taken 
hold of, and in every case he's made a success. 

[22] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

I feel partly responsible for this trouble, but I'm 
sure that Mr. Barker could bring about a great 
change for the better in the Sunday School." 

" There, there. Miss Bums," soothed the min- 
ister. " You mustn't feel at all disturbed over 
this matter. I liked your friend's suggestions, 
and I would be happy to have him as a counselor 
until everything is adjusted. Here he comes. 
We'll ask him." 

John Hancock Barker was walking briskly 
back from his errand, and as he approached the 
two, Dr. Holmes addressed him. 

" Mr. Barker," he said, " I want to ask a favor 
of you. I know something of your business 
ability and would like to call upon you for coun- 
sel until the disturbed condition of our Sunday 
School is adjusted." 

The young man held up his hand. 

"You must excuse me, Doctor," he objected. 
" This is not at all in my line. I'm an adman, 
a commercial expert, a past-master in the art of 
publicity. I will admit that when I was called 
here to give you my opinion a few minutes ago, I 
was performing my first executive service for a 
religious institution. The results indicate that I 
stirred things up. I always do when I think they 

[23] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

need it. But now I hope you will excuse me 
from further participation." 

There was the sound of footsteps on the center 
aisle, and turning the trio saw Treasurer Lester 
approaching. 

" Ah — Dr. Holmes," he gasped, " I have just 
had a talk with Deacon Smalley. He says that 
Mr. Minchin has spoken to him already. Our 
former superintendent insists that the Sunday 
School be placed in your hands for the next 
month. It's because he believes under your 
management it will run down and strengthen 
his position. Then he expects to be recalled 
in a manner that would reflect discredit upon 
you." 

"Thank you," said the minister. "I appre- 
ciate your promptness in notifying me." 

The treasurer bowed and hastened away. 

For a moment the trio was silent. Suddenly 
Mary whispered something in her companion's 
ear, and he nodded half willingly. Then he ex- 
tended his hand to the clergyman whose expres- 
sion for the first time had become discouraged. 

" Doctor," he said, " I'm with you. If we don't 
put it all over every Sunday School in the city 
during the next four weeks and make that ex- 

[24] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

superintendent eat his words, then my name isn't 
John Hancock Barker." 

"Thank you," said the minister warmly, his 
face brightening as he took the adman's hand. 
" I believe we can do it." 

" It's my practice," said Barker, with a sudden 
solemnity foreign to his manner, " not to work 
on Sunday. Will four o'clock here, to-morrow 
afternoon, be agreeable for a meeting? " 

" It will," came the enthusiastic response. 

" It's going to be all right," cried Mary en- 
couragingly to the minister. " Goodbye." 

"Thank you. Miss Bums," said the minister 
warmly. 

" So long. Doctor," laughed the adman, and 
the conference was ended. 

An hour later, John Hancock Barker was at 
one end of a telephone wire and his tailor at the 
other end. 

" I want a black suit," said the former. 

" For whom? " asked the other. 

" For me, John Hancock Barker." 

There was a laugh at the other end of the line. 

"What kind?" 

"Religious. You know, the kind a Sunday 
School superintendent would wear." 

[25] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

"What is it, Mr. Barker, a masquerade?" 

" Nope." 

" A funeral, then? " 

John Hancock Barker thought of Superintend- 
ent Minchin. 

" Incidentally, yes," he answered ; " and say, 
it's got to be ready Saturday night." 



[26] 



Chapter II 
NEW METHODS 

The next Sunday the attendance again fell off 
at the Parkside Memorial Sunday School. Ex- 
cept that there were fewer chairs occupied, 
everything looked very much the same as on 
preceding Sabbath mornings. There was a big 
dial, however, on the platform, with the word 
" Attendance " written across the center. After 
the fashion of a clock face there were little num- 
bered lines at the circumference. Dividing the 
circumference into four equal parts were heavy 
lines, the first to the extreme right marked " one 
hundred," the second at the bottom of the circle 
marked " two hundred," the third at the extreme 
left marked " three hundred " and the one at the 
top marked " four hundred." 

There was a large white square sheet back of 
the center of the platform, and there were sev- 
eral musical instruments lying on the top of the 
grand piano. 

It was five minutes before the time to open 

[27] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

the service when Miss Mary Bums, accompanied 
by a young man dressed in faultless black from 
his silk hat to his patent leather shoes, entered' 
the vestibule. 

" You look splendid in them," whispered his 
pretty companion. 

" But I feel," he muttered, " as if I were going 
to have my picture taken." 

" It was so thoughtful of you, too," she added. 
" They are just the thing for this undertaking." 

He looked himself over. 

" Undertaking is right," he said. 

They walked down the main aisle, and Mary 
introduced her companion to several of the Sun- 
day School teachers who were gathered about 
the library. Then she went to find the minister. 

Dr. Holmes had just come from the service in 
the church. His expression was disturbed as he 
greeted Mary. His eye traveled quickly around 
the room, and then he said anxiously, "He 
hasn't come yet, has he? " 

"Why yes," replied Mary, "that is, if you 
mean Mr. Barker. He's over there." 

Dr. Holmes stared in the direction indicated 
and after a moment smiled. 

" I didn't recognize him," he said. 

[28] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

The adman turned and saw them and then 
crossed to Dr. Holmes. 

" Everything's all ready," he assured the pas- 
tor. "If you'll signal to Miss Wagar, the or- 
chestra will play the overture — I mean the 
opening number." 

" Very well," replied the pastor as he smiled 
and looked at his watch. " It's time now." He 
mounted the platform, and nodded to an attract- 
ive young woman who had just taken her place 
at the piano. She, in turn, signaled to several 
boys and girls who came forward and picked up 
the instruments that had been lying upon the 
platform. Another signal and the first orchestra 
of the Parkside Memorial Sunday School was 
playing the opening hymn with remarkable 
smoothness for a newly assembled organization. 

John Hancock Barker walked about the room 
carefully making observations. He was greeted 
cordially by Thomas Lester, but he noticed that 
the treasurer was very nervous. Wilton For- 
man, teacher of the Bible class, failed to recog- 
nize him at first in the new suit, and then re- 
strained with difficulty his amused feelings. 

In the rear of the room sat the former superin- 
tendent, the late leader of music, who had re- 

[29] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

signed the Monday before, and Deacon Smalley. 
The trio paid no heed to the adman as he passed 
them, although he endeavored to catch the eyes 
of Timothy Minchin and Alicia Crosby. When 
he was some paces away he fancied that he heard 
his name mentioned by the deacon, and the words 
" sport " and " red tie " drifted to him from the 
others. 

The h5min finished, the minister offered a 
prayer, the warmth and brevity of which was in 
strong contrast to the cold and long-winded ef- 
forts of the former superintendent. The respon- 
sive reading followed. 

Dr. Holmes then announced that twenty min- 
utes instead of the usual half hour would be 
allowed for class work. This statement was 
greeted with manifest approval by teachers and 
scholars alike. When the lesson time was con- 
cluded, the second hymn was sung with the 
spirited accompaniment of the new orchestra. 

Barker was standing not far from the trio of 
critical observers in the back of the room. As 
the school reached the chorus of the h5min. Miss 
Crosby raised her right hand to her ear. 

" Isn't it dreadful? " she exclaimed. 

" Screechy ! " agreed the ex-superintendent. 

[30] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" I rather like it/' said the Deacon, and Barker 
walked away smiling. 

When the contributions had been collected, 
Dr. Holmes arose and addressed the school. 

" We are going to try several experiments," 
he said, " to make our Sunday School as useful, 
practical and attractive as possible. We want 
our teachers and scholars to come here not as a 
duty but as a privilege, and we are going to try 
to make our service such that the spirit of peace 
and goodwill and righteous doing may be with 
us, not only on Sunday, but every day." 

There was a disapproving sniff from the back 
of the room that caused those near to stare at 
Miss Alicia Crosby. 

"Our former superintendent, Timothy Min- 
chin, has resigned after many years of faithful 
service," went on Dr. Holmes, and Barker no- 
ticed with pleasure that there was no evidence of 
regret among those present. "The man who 
will manage our experiment will tell you more 
about it," continued the minister. " He will not 
accept a title of office, as he says that he merely 
wishes to introduce methods that we can carry 
out later. His name is Mr. John Hancock Bar- 
ker, and he will talk to you now." 

[31] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

Ex-superintendent Minchin was evidently hor- 
rified. 

" The nerve o£ him ! " he whispered, and those 
in the rear seats glared indignantly, for Timothy 
Minchin had not been popular during his long 
regime. 

The adman acknowledged the minister's bow 
and stepped to the front of the platform. 

** Dr. Holmes," he began, " has told you in 
general of our new policy. I will not add much 
to what he has said because I would prefer to 
have you notice the changes as we make them." 
He referred to a card in his hand. " In the first 
place, you have heard the pleasant music of our 
little orchestra. We believe that the little or- 
chestra will increase in size and harmony just as 
the entire Sunday School will live up to its new 
slogan, * Watch us grow.' " 

The adman directed his gaze at the rear of the 
room and amusedly noted the displeasure his 
words were causing the former superintend- 
ent. 

" After Sunday School," he went on, " I want 
each pupil who plays any instrument to hand in 
his or her name. I also want the names of those 
who have taken singing lessons. Music is to 

[32] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

have a more important part in our service than 
heretofore." 

He drew his right hand back to his hip and 
would have slipped it into his pocket had not the 
frock coat reminded him that he must maintain 
a dignity worthy of the place. 

" Each Sunday," he continued, " we will have a 
speaker not connected with the Sunday School 
who will deal with Biblical matters in an enter- 
taining way. Today Mr. Jordan Phillips, whose 
name is known to all of you, one of our leading 
manufacturers, will tell you briefly of his recent 
trip to the Holy Land and will show you beauti- 
ful stereopticon pictures of the spots that played 
important parts in the early days of Christian- 
ity." 

John Hancock Barker paused and gazed from 
the body of the school to the left where Mary and 
several others were grouped near the library 
door, and to the right where the minister and a 
half dozen visitors were seated. Their glances 
confirmed his own opinion. He was making a 
hit, and he might have patted himself on the back 
had not the frock coat fitted him so snugly un- 
der the shoulders. 

" Mr. Phillips," he said pleasantly, bowing to 

[33] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

one of the group near the minister, and a moment 
later he formally introduced the speaker. 

Using for his illustrations, slides of excep- 
tional beauty, the manufacturer told in an easy 
and entertaining way the story of the Holy Land 
of today and referred briefly to Biblical events 
with which the school was familiar. 

When he had concluded, John Hancock Barker 
again took the floor. 

" We want to thank you, Mr. Phillips," he said, 
" and engage you, I should say invite you, to give 
us your talk on India at an early date." 

Mr. Phillips nodded his assent, and Barker con- 
tinued. " Next Sunday we will have a stereopti- 
con talk on Eg5^t. It will be given by Jeptha 
Chandler, a member of our church. He will 
show you up-to-date — I mean modem pictures 
of the land of Moses." 

There was no doubt that he had the interest 
of the entire school at heart. 

" Wednesday night we will revive the Boys' 
Club, and believe me, young men, it will be a live 
organization. We have some fine plans, and 
with your help it will be the top-notch boys' club 
in the city. May I ask all the boys who will be 
here Wednesday night to rise? " 

[34] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

Every boy in the room stood up. 

" Thank you," he said. " You may be seated. 
And now for the girls. You're not to be neg- 
lected, young ladies. Miss Mary Burns is to 
have charge of the club now instead of Miss 
Crosby, and she has some pleasant surprises in 
store for you. She told me — but that would be 
telling. You'll have to come yourselves, Satur- 
day, at two o'clock, to find out. All the little 
ladies who will be here will stand up so that we 
may know how much ice cream — " He stopped 
abruptly, and there was a general laugh through- 
out the room. Every girl was on her feet. 

Barker turned to Mary. " I'm sorry, Miss 
Bums," he said, " I've given away one of your 
secrets, but then I know you've got others." He 
turned to the school and continued. " You may 
sit down, young ladies. There are a great many 
more things I would like to talk to you about, but 
time will not permit. Next Sunday, if you're 
very prompt, we will go into more plans for 
making this the best and the biggest Sunday 
School in the city." 

There was some vigorous clapping, but the 
adman raised his hand. 

" There must be no applauding," he announced 

[35] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

solemnly, but with a sense o£ gratification. 
" This," he added, pointing to the big dial, " is 
to record our attendance." 

A young man stepped to the platform and 
marked " 97 " at its proper place on the dial and 
then wrote " ist Sunday " after it. 

"Today our attendance was only ninety- 
seven," continued the adman. " That's bad ; but 
wait. This is the first Sunday under the new 
system. A week from today I'm sure you're 
going to bring back the scholars who've drifted 
away, by telling them of the pictures, of the boys' 
and girls' clubs and that there will be more sur- 
prises. Will you do this? " 

There was a general shout of " Yes." 

" On the fourth Sunday," the adman continued, 
" we'll have to put out the * standing room only ' 
sign." 

" What's that? " piped a small voice. 

Barker laughed. 

** Bless your heart, that means we won't have 
enough chairs." 

He turned to the minister. 

" Dr. Holmes, will you pronounce the benedic- 
tion, after which we will sing the closing h5min." 

When the service was finished, the children did 

[36] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

not scurry to leave, but took their time studying 
the attendance dial, reading the cards that had 
been given them and discussing the new manager 
and his methods. 

There seemed to be approval among the teach- 
ers and pupils concerning the innovations, but the 
approval was not unanimous. In one of the back 
corners of the room, Timothy Minchin, Alicia 
Crosby, Deacon Smalley and several others were 
earnestly conferring. As the last stragglers 
among the children filed out, this little group 
proceeded towards the platform, where Dr. 
Holmes and Mary were congratulating Barker 
upon his successful debut as a Sunday School 
manager. 

" You never lost their attention," said the min- 
ister. 

" It was splendid," chimed in Mary. 

"But the knockers haven't had a chance," 
observed the adman. He looked up as he spoke 
and saw the approaching group. "Ah," he 
added, " the anvil chorus is coming now." 

Deacon Smalley headed the party and acted as 
spokesman. 

" Dr. Holmes," he began, " this isn't to con- 
tinue, I hope?" 

[37] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" You refer to our new manner of service? " 
asked the minister. 

" It isn't a service," observed Minchin. " It's 
a vaudyville." 

" I saw nothing out of the way," said the 
clergyman, "and for three more Sundays we'll 
continue. Then if the results indicate failure, 
we will again change our policies." 

"And will you allow slang," queried Miss 
Crosby, " to be the prevailing talk? " 

" I'll answer that," said Barker, keeping cool 
with some difficulty. " I'm not a preacher nor a 
superintendent, but a business man. My talk is 
the talk of the world of commerce. I'm sorry 
it isn't polished. But it's simple and easy to un- 
derstand, and the children like it. I didn't want 
this job, but now that I've taken it, I'll make this 
Sunday School prosper despite its former handi- 
caps." 

He looked from the former director of music 
to the ex-superintendent. 

"Supposing you are dismissed?" snapped 
Minchin. 

" I'll cross that bridge when I get to it," smiled 
Barker, "and I'll be here on the fourth Sunday 
even if it takes an injunction suit to stop you 

[38] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

from stopping me. But with broad-minded men 
such as Deacon Smalley to deal with, I am not 
afraid of interference." 

He held out his hand to the leader of the party, 
who took it in spite of his feelings. 

Barker looked at his watch. 

" You'll have to excuse me," he said. " I'm 
on my way to visit one of the down town mis- 
sions." 

Mary joined him, and the group stood in won- 
derment as the two said their goodbyes and 
hastened away. 

" I demand a meeting of the church officers," 
cried Minchin. " This outrage must be stopped." 

" It's disgraceful," agreed Miss Crosby. 

"I'll ask that the meeting be called," an- 
nounced Deacon Smalley. 

When Barker had left Mary at her door, he 
consulted his memorandum book, and glanced 
at the items on the page headed " Boys' Club." 
Then he went to the telephone and called up his 
tailor. 

" This is John Hancock Barker," he said. " I 
want a new suit." 

"Evening clothes?" asked the tailor. "You 
have everything else." 

[39] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" Wrong," called the adman. 
"What kind of a suit will it be then?" in- 
quired the tailor. 
Barker looked at the boys' club page. 
" Baseball," he said. 



[40] 



Chapter III 
THE THIRD SUNDAY 

Two weeks later there were several surprises 
for the children of the Parkside Memorial Sunday 
School. Those who entered the main room first 
gave forth delighted " ohs " and the later comers 
joined with joyful " ahs." 

The old room with its dingy decorations and 
gloomy furnishings had been transformed into a 
bright and attractive hall. Comfortable chairs 
supplanted the womout seats; practical tables 
took the place of wabbly ones; the Bible class 
room was curtained off with neat, new hangings. 
Cheerful paper covered the side walls, and the 
cleaned ceiling once more reflected light. There 
was a softer carpet on the floor and modem 
furniture on the refinished platform. 

When the new clock on the gallery rail indi- 
cated that it still lacked five minutes of service 
time, the big room was two-thirds filled, and sev- 
eral of the older boys were carrying in chairs from 
the parlors. 

[41] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

In the back of the room were gathered the 
officials of the church. The meeting demanded 
by Minchin had been called the Monday previous, 
and the request that the new manager be dis- 
missed was refused. However, it was decided 
that the officials attend the next service in a 
body to determine whether or not Barker 
would be permitted to remain for the fourth 
Sunday. 

The previous service had been even more suc- 
cessful than the first. The attendance, according 
to the dial, had been 201, or more than double 
that of the previous week. The innovations in- 
troduced were approved by the school, if not by 
the former superintendent and the late leader of 
music. But the slang of the manager would out, 
and a few of his pleasantries seemed rather flip- 
pant for a Sunday School. At any rate, there 
was enough out of the way in the minds of the 
" anvil chorus " to make the unusual demand that 
the officers of the church, eight in number, attend 
the service. 

They were here. 

The clock indicated the half hour. 

An unfamiliar figure mounted the platform. It 
was that of a young man with clean-cut features 

[42] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

and a determined expression. He wore clerical 
vestments, and he carried himself in a military 
style. Following him came John Hancock 
Barker. The adman nodded to Miss Wagar, the 
two men seated themselves, and the opening 
hymn was sung to the accompaniment of an 
orchestra that now numbered fourteen pieces. 

The visitor lead the prayer in a manly and im- 
pressive style and then conducted the responsive 
reading. After the hymn that followed the les- 
son period, John Hancock Barker addressed the 
school. 

" I'm glad we have an old chum of mine with us 
today," he began, and, as he looked at the group 
in the rear of the room, he noticed considerable 
nudging which made him regret he had used the 
word " chum.'* " The Reverend James Connell," 
he continued, " was a schoolmate of mine, and 
a lively lad he was, too. He was captain of the 
baseball team, end on the 'leven, and he pulled 
seven on the crew. He lectures tomorrow night 
at the Armory, but he promises me that he will 
give us the best part of the talk here today with 
his prettiest pictures — Mr. Connell." The 
young minister laughed as he took the adman's 
place at the front of the platform. 

[43] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

He gave an interesting talk on psychology in 
such simple language that all could understand, 
and his pictures and diagrams helped to fascinate 
his youthful audience. At the conclusion of his 
address, he told the story of a young man who 
had worked his way to the top as a publicity ex- 
pert by virtue of vigor, energy and push. Then 
he drew a comparison. He told his hearers to 
employ enthusiasm in preparing their lessons, in 
attending their Sunday School, in performing 
acts of kindness to others. " Enthusiasm will 
help you to achieve happiness, prosperity and re- 
ligion," he said warmly, " and you are fortunate 
in having as your guide in this school, my old 
classmate, the young man of whom I was speak- 
ing, who in the boyhood days when I knew him 
best was * Ginger ' Barker." 

Mr. Connell had not only impressed the audi- 
ence favorably, but he had added to the popu- 
larity of the already popular Sunday School man- 
ager. 

John Hancock Barker, with a determination to 
keep slang in the background, again addressed 
the school. 

" In the first place, teachers, pupils and 
friends," he began, " I am pleased to note that 

[44] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

our attendance has grown. Is the report 
ready? " 

A tall young man nodded and then marked 
317 on the dial opposite the words " 3rd Sunday." 
There was an " ah " of appreciation in all parts 
of the room. 

" That sure is fine ! " commented the adman, 
forgetting himself until he caught Mary's reprov- 
ing glance too late. " The collection is keeping 
pace with the attendance, and I believe the good 
we are doing is maintaining the same rate. And 
now I want to tell the girls about the boys and 
the boys about the girls. The boys, girls, have 
eighty-two members in their club. There's a 
baseball team, a debating section and a member- 
ship committee. This committee will please re- 
port." 

Arthur McCaslin, a sturdy boy of fourteen, 
stepped forward and read: 

"William Green's membership team has 
brought twenty-two new members into the Sun- 
day School in ten days; Thomas Carter's team 
eighteen members ; total forty. The team ahead 
the first of February gets a pennant for each 
member from Mr. Barker." He bowed and hur- 
ried back to his seat. 

[45] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

"The girls, boys," went on Barker smiling, 
" have been busy, too. Nettie Gardner, will you 
report, please?" 

A pretty girl of fifteen told of a sewing society, 
a reading club and a membership team that 
had been recently organized by the girls of the 
Sunday School under Miss Mary Burns' direc- 
tion. 

Twenty-nine new members had been added to 
the school, she said, but she stated further that 
this work was scarcely begun. 

The adman then called attention to the new 
decorations and furnishings and gave the list of 
ten church members who had raised the neces- 
sary fund. 

" We have arranged a public library branch for 
the Sunday School," he continued, " and Miss 
Bums will be able to help you more than ever 
with your reading. Next Sunday we shall have 
no stereopticon pictures." 

He paused and noted the disappointment that 
greeted his announcement. 

" Instead," he added, " we shall have moving 
pictures." 

The pleasure the latest announcement gave dis- 
counted the effect of the earlier disappointment. 

[46] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

In the back of the room, however, there was evi- 
dently much whispered protesting. 

"The pictures," went on Barker, "deal with 
the life of Moses and are as historically correct 
as it is possible to make them. A film company 
is now following my suggestion of making mov- 
ing pictures exclusively for Sunday Schools, and, 
as a reward for the suggestion, we are to get 
them first and free. Since last Sunday we have 
organized an entertainment committee that is 
preparing a show — I mean — an entertainment 
to give in the social settlement houses. We find 
we have a great deal of talent. Will all those 
who have had experience in entertaining hand in 
their names to Miss Bums? Our first entertain- 
ment will be given here some evening next week, 
and only those who belong to the Sunday School 
can come. Next Sunday is the last for our ex- 
periment, and I hope the attendance will con- 
tinue to grow. As you pass out today you will 
each receive a flower to take home. They are 
given with the compliments of one of the ladies 
of the church who does not wish her name an- 
nounced. My good friend, Dr. Connell, will pro- 
nounce the benediction and then we will sing 
hymn number 37." 

[47] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

When the school was dismissed the group of 
officials in the rear of the room remained. Dr. 
Holmes was with them. 

Near the platform stood John Hancock Barker, 
the Rev. Mr. Connell and Miss Burns, the latter 
two congratulating the adman upon the splendid 
success of his third Sunday. 

"It looks as though it would be three, and 
out," laughed Barker as he nodded toward the 
rear of the room where the ex-superintendent 
was vigorously talking to the church officials. 

" Not while Dr. Holmes has anything to say 
about it," put in Mary. " See ! He's having his 
say now." 

A few minutes later the minister came down 
the center aisle, and the group in the rear of the 
room disbanded. 

" What's my sentence? " laughed Barker. 

" It would have been hanging," smiled the min- 
ister, " if Minchin had his way. But I told them 
that if you went before the fourth Sunday, that 
I — . Well, they decided that you will again have 
the management of the school a week from to- 
day." 

"I hope I haven't in any way jeopardized 
your good standing," said the adman seriously. 

[48] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" I'm afraid you have," answered the minister, 
" with Miss Alicia Crosby." 

There was a general laugh, and then Barker 
took the minister aside. He talked hurriedly and 
nodded several times towards Mr. Connell. 
Whatever he said seemed to meet with the ap- 
proval of Dr. Holmes. 

A few minutes later, Mr. Connell excused 
himself, and Barker and Miss Bums were about 
to take their leave of the clergyman. Suddenly 
Dr. Holmes gripped the adman's hand. 

" You can never understand, John," he said, 
" how much I appreciate your kindness in doing 
what you are doing for this Sunday School. 
To think there are people contemptible enough 
to try to oppose you! See how beautiful this 
room is today in comparison with the dingy old 
hall of a week ago, and to look into the happy 
faces of the children this morning who came 
here, not because their parents sent them, but 
through the love of this institution, was an 
inspiration. It has been fine of you, and I 
only hope that some day I can partly repay 
you." 

He talked fervently, and his words impressed 
the two young people before him. 

[49] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" Thank you, Doctor," said the adman. " You 
just can do that, some day." 

" Name the way, then." 

For a moment the adman hesitated. Then he 
turned to Mary. " You've forgotten that book 
you promised to get me from the library, haven't 
you?" 

" That's so, I have," she answered. "I'll get 
it at once." 

She hurried away, and John Hancock Barker 
smiled. 

He nodded after Mary, and then he patted 
himself over the heart and said, " You know the 
way. Doc. — I mean. Doctor. You know the 
way, but I don't know the day." 

" It will indeed be a pleasure," smiled Dr. 
Holmes, " and may the day be soon." 

The two men shook hands, and when Mary 
returned with the book, John Hancock Barker 
walked home with her. 

"Do you remember a little talk we had three 
weeks ago today, Mary? " he asked. 

" Do you mean on the way to Sunday 
School? " she inquired. 

" That was the talk," answered John. " Do 
you recall that you found fault with me? I'd 

[50] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

been talking about hurrying up the day, and you 
scolded me. You said that there were a num- 
ber of things in your life that I didn't care for, 
but the only one that seemed of any importance 
concerned the Sunday School. Do you remem- 
ber you asked me how long it had been since I 
was inside of a Sunday School?" 

"Yes," she answered, "you told me it had 
been twelve years." 

" And I agreed to sit up in the gallery because 
nobody would notice me there, and then when 
the service was over and I looked forward to 
walking home with you, I was hauled out of the 
gallery and made the superintendent." 

Mary laughed. " It is funny, isn't it ? " she said. 

" In some ways, yes," he replied. " The first 
Sunday, though, it didn't seem funny a little bit. 
When I got up there in these funeral clothes and 
faced that gang of kiddies, I almost had stage 
fright. But honest, Mary, I*m getting to like it." 

" I'm very glad, John." 

"Say, this isn't what I started out to say at 
all. Going back to that conversation of three 
weeks ago, you said you weren't quite ready to 
discuss the date for pulling off an event that's 
of more importance to me than any date since 

[51] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

my first birthday. You wanted me to show an 
interest in church work first." 

He looked down at the ground and then 
straight into her eyes. " Haven't I made good, 
Mary? " 

She hesitated, and then drew a long breath. 
" Not yet, John," she answered. " You've got 
one Sunday to go." 

"And then?" 

" Why, John Hancock Barker, we've gone two 
blocks by my street ! " 

A half hour later, the adman picked up his 
telephone. He gave his tailor's number, and a 
few seconds later reached that individual. 

" I guess you can make that evening suit for 
me," he said. 

"Thank you, Mr. Barker," came the answer. 

"Say, how did you know that this is Mr. 
Barker? " 

" Because," replied the tailor, " you're the only 
customer I've got who orders his clothes on Sun- 
day." 

" Oh," exclaimed the adman. 

" For a wedding? " asked the tailor. 

John Hancock Barker smiled. 

"I hope so!" 

[52] 



Chapter IV 

THE DAY AFTER 

It was the Monday after the Fourth Sunday. 
John Hancock Barker had just arrived at his 
office. There was a beautiful bouquet in the 
vase on top of his filing cabinet, and there was 
a fat stack of letters heaped on his desk. The 
morning papers were opened and laid beside the 
letters. Blue pencil marks around a half column 
article attracted his eye first. He read the dis- 
play head: 

SUNDAY SCHOOL 

DRAWS TOO MANY 



Hundreds of Boys and Girls 

Are Turned Away From 

Parkside Memorial 



New Methods of John Hancock 

Barker Prove Remarkably 

Successful 



His eye traveled rapidly down the page. 

[53] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" Not a bad story," he said, " and it's pretty 
nearly correct." 

He glanced over the other papers and found 
the marked article in each about the same as the 
first he read. Then he turned to his mail. 

He picked up the top letter. " Congratula- 
tions on the new record," he read. 

" Well, 502 wasn't bad," he mused, " when I 
only set out to get four hundred. Besides, there 
were two hundred on the outside." 

He smiled. "What's this?" He picked up 
the second epistle and read: "I am sending 
four pictures for the Sunday School walls that 
I bought last summer in Jerusalem. I hope 
you'll like them." He laid the second letter with 
the first. 

"She thinks I'm a permanent official," he 
laughed. 

The third envelope contained a substantial 
check for the Bible fund, and the fourth sug- 
gested a well-known speaker who would be will- 
ing to address the school. As he picked up the 
fifth, there was a knock on the door. 

"Come in," he called. 

Treasurer Lester entered and shook hands 
warmly. 

[54] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

"Wasn't it wonderful?" he exclaimed. 

" Yesterday? " 

" Of course." 

"Yes, the attendance was fine," said the ad- 
man. 

" I don't mean the attendance," objected Mr. 
Lester. " I mean the collection. You remem- 
ber we didn't have time to count it. Well, it 
totals one hundred and twenty-two dollars and 
eighteen cents more than the highest record in 
the history of Parkside Memorial." 

" That's gratifying, indeed," admitted Barker. 
" Won't you be seated? " 

"Thank you, I can't," replied the treasurer. 
" I've got to hurry around and pay oB some old 
debts incurred when Minchin was superintend- 
ent. Goodbye." 

" Goodbye." 

The treasurer turned towards the door and 
then stopped. 

" You — you wouldn't mind my saying some- 
thing? " he suddenly asked. 

" Why, I'd be glad to hear whatever you'd 
like to say," assured the adman. 

" You — you're a wonder ! " stammered the 
treasurer. " Goodbye." 

[55] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" Thank you," smiled Barker. " Come again." 

The door closed, and the adman picked up the 
next letter. It was from Mr. Connell, and it 
carried cheerful words concerning the achieve- 
ment of the day before. 

There was another knock on the door, and this 
time Wilton Forman, teacher of the Bible class, 
entered. He, too, shook Barker's hand warmly 
and expressed his congratulations. 

** My, but you hit old Minchin hard," he 
laughed. " Did you see his face when the at- 
tendance was posted on the wheel and you 
couldn't stop the applause?" 

" No, I didn't see him," answered Barker. 

" Well — but that isn't what I came for. Our 
class has just doubled during the last four weeks, 
and we kind of thought maybe you'd like a little 
remembrance of us. It was you did the 
doubling, and we wanted you to have this Bible 
with the names of all the old members here and 
the new boys here." 

" It's a beauty! " cried Barker. " Thank you, 
and will you thank the others for me? " 

" They want you to come out and conduct the 
class when you can because they — well, they 
like your style better than mine." 

[56] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" Nonsense ! " exclaimed Barker. " But you 
can tell them I'll come." 

"Goodbye!" 

"Goodbye!" 

The sixth letter carried the congratulations of 
the primary department, the seventh an appre- 
ciation from Dr. Holmes, and the eighth and 
ninth had nothing to do with the Sunday School. 
They were only business, and they were quickly 
dismissed. The tenth didn't get attention im- 
mediately because of another rap on the door. 

Arthur McCaslin and Nettie Gardner, Presi- 
dents of the Boys' Club and the Girls' Club, the 
former a little more abashed than the latter, en- 
tered. Each shook hands with the adman, and 
Nettie acted as spokesman. 

" You didn't come to the picnic Saturday, 
Mr. Barker," she said. 

" No," replied the adman, " I was very sorry, 
but I was too busy getting things ready for yes- 
terday. It was a great success, I hear." 

" We beat the West Side Sunday School eight 
to two," put in Arthur. 

" Splendid ! " cried Barker. 

" Jimmie Armstrong," went on the boy, " says 
it was your coaching done it — I mean did it." 

[57] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" Well, I'm glad to have helped," said Barker. 

" We held an election," observed Miss Gard- 
ner. 

" An election of what kind? " asked the adman. 

" Of Sunday School superintendent," answered 
Arthur. 

" Why, how could you do that? " asked Barker. 
" The church officers do that." 

"We know," replied Nettie, "but my father 
says that expressions of those interested helps 
to elect, and he's a politician." 

" I see," said the adman. 

" There was four candidates," volunteered 
Arthur. "There was Mr. Lester, Mr. Forman, 
Mr. Woodrow and yourself." 

" And how did it come out? " inquired Barker. 

"Mr. Woodrow got one vote," said Arthur, 
"and—" 

" Mr. Forman got seven," announced Nettie, 
"and—" 

"Mr. Lester got eleven," said Arthur, "and 
you got — " 

" Two hundred and fourteen ! " cried both 
together. 

"Thank you very much, Nettie and Arthur, 
for coming to tell me, but I can't accept. How- 

[58] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

ever, I'll come to see you at the school whenever 
I can." 

"That's better than not at all," admitted 
Nettie sorrowfully. 

"Gee, but the kids will feel bad," assured 
Arthur. 

John Hancock Barker opened the door for the 
children when they rose to say goodbye. He 
watched them get into the elevator and drew a 
deep breath. As he was closing the door, an- 
other elevator stopped and several familiar 
figures stepped out. There was Deacon Smal- 
ley and with him four other officials of the 
church. 

For a moment there flashed into his mind the 
thought that they might have imagined he 
wanted to continue in service and that Minchin 
had prevailed upon them to stop him. 

They entered gravely, and Deacon Smalley in- 
troduced one of the men whom Barker had not 
met before. 

" Our mission," began the dried up little dea- 
con, " concerns your connection with the Sunday 
School." 

" It's coming," thought the adman. " They're 
here to fire me, although it isn't necessary." 

[59] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

" We like some of your reforms very much," 
went on the solemn Smalley. 

"They're letting me down easy," mused 
Barker. 

" The idea of providing each book of the Bible 
in separate covers we find by investigation is 
causing the children and their families to indulge 
much more in Biblical reading." 

" Your moving picture idea," put in Mr. Will- 
son, " makes it far easier for the children to com- 
prehend the stories of the good book." 

" The orchestra," added Deacon Jasper, " is a 
feature that attracts much favorable comment. 
There are fourteen pieces now, are there not? " 

" Eighteen," answered Barker pleasantly. 

" Our mission," continued Deacon Smalley, " is 
to tell you of a meeting of our officers held a half 
hour ago. We have decided, Mr. Barker — " 

" Here comes the blow," thought the adman. 

" We have decided," went on the Deacon, " to 
ask you to become our permanent superintend- 
ent." 

John Hancock Barker was dumbfounded for a 
moment. 

" Thank you, gentlemen," he said, " but I can- 
not accept. However, the Sunday School is now 

[60] 



THE ROUSING OF PARKSIDE 

playing to capacity — I mean is as well attended 
as the size will permit, and its success seems as- 
sured. I have suggested my good friend, Dr. 
Connell, to Mr. Holmes, and I'm sure he's a 
better man for the place than I am." 

The others didn't seem so sure. 

Disappointed, the quintet said goodbye and 
filed away. 

The eleventh letter contained among other 
things, the words, "You might come out and 
talk over the matter you mentioned the first 
Sunday. You made good on the Fourth Sun- 
day." 

The adman touched that letter to his lips be- 
fore he picked up the last. 

It contained a bill — a tailor bill for one hun- 
dred and sixty-five dollars. 

John Hancock Barker smiled. 

" It was worth it ! " he said. 

The End 



[6i] 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper pr^ess 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Ox.de 

Treatrrient Date: Sept. 2005 

PreservationTechnologies 

: WORLD LEADER -N PAPER PBESERVAT.ON 

111 -momson Park Onve 
CranberryTownship. PA 16066 

(724)779-2111 



0^ 

n 



